Biobarakuma Wangagha Degi Eremienyo (born 22 February 1959), is a Nigerian politician and the senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district of

Bayelsa State Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. Yena ...

at the

9th National Assembly 9th National Assembly may refer to: * 9th National Assembly of France * 9th National Assembly of Laos * 9th National Assembly of Nigeria * 9th National Assembly of Pakistan * 9th National Assembly of Serbia * 9th National Assembly of South Ko ...

. In 2019, he was appointed the vice chairman senate committee on gas resources and vice chairman senate committee on special duties.

Early life and education

Degi is from Basambiri,

Nembe Nembe is a Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Nembe in the east of the area at The people of Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw Councils of Bayelsa State have bemoaned their neglect by oil companies ...

. In 1990, he graduated from Rivers State University with a degree in agricultural economics/extension, before proceeding to receive a master of business administration from the same university.

Polictical career

Degi started his political career in the 1980s. In 1990, he became a member of the local chamber in Nembe Local Government Area, becoming the vice-chairman in 1993 and chairman of the local government area in 1999. Later in his career, he served as a commissioner for rural development and chieftaincy affairs and also as a commissioner for health in Bayelsa State. He served as a member of the governing council of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and as executive director of human resources in FERMA. In the 23 February 2019 general elections in Nigeria, Degi was elected as the senator representing Bayelsa East, he got 43,303 votes to beat the PDP candidate, Ipiganai Izagara who got 32,363 votes. On 10 September 2019, Degi was announced as David Lyon's running mate in the 16 November 2019 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State. On 12 November 2019, the federal high court in Abuja disqualified Degi as Lyon's running mate for the Bayelsa State governorship election on the basis of falsification of academic documents. The Court of Appeal in Abuja had halted the judgement disqualifying him as Lyon's running mate for allegedly filing false academic information on 15 November 2019. On 16 November 2019, he was declared the deputy governor-elect of

by the

Independent National Electoral Commission The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established in 1998 and is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria. History Regulation and administration of elections The administration of democratic elections in Nige ...

, INEC. On 13 February 2020, a day prior to his swearing-in as deputy governor, his election was invalidated by the

Supreme Court of Nigeria The Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) is the highest court in Nigeria, and is located in the Central District, Abuja, in what is known as the Three Arms Zone, so called due to the proximity of the offices of the Presidential Complex, the National Ass ...

on grounds that he submitted a fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Degi, Biobarakuma 1959 births Living people Nigerian politicians People from Bayelsa State Rivers State University alumni